Serendipity
Word Count: 262 Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Entry: #1
I found a girl sitting alone at the back of the library today. I don't think she was looking for company – at least, I didn't think she was at first. I'm not one to intrude, and it felt like she was having a private moment. I stared a moment too long, and she caught me. At that point, I thought for sure she'd yell at me or tell me to find someone else to be like a lot of Slytherins do, but she...just broke into tears.
I don't reckon I thought too much about it after that—and maybe I should've asked her permission first—but I slid down the wall next to her. When she didn't try to chase me off, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder like I sometimes do with Sera when she's not feeling good. It was the only thing I could think of in the moment, without knowing what was wrong. Before I knew it, she was leaning into me, sobbing like they'd told her summer break was cancelled.
I never did find out what was wrong, but, sitting there, I realised something. She didn't need someone asking her questions or filling her with promises they couldn't keep about everything being fine. She just needed someone to hold her until she felt good enough to hold herself.
So that's what I did.
She thanked me after, and I was a little embarrassed. I hadn't needed a thank you. It wouldn't have been right to leave her that way. I'm just glad she left looking a little better.
Word Count: 233 Date: Friday, February 27, 2026 Entry: #2
One of my dormmates lost her toad...again.
It's probably the sixth time this week. I'm not sure where the little guy keeps getting off to, or what she must be doing for him to run away so frequently, but the whole thing had me up all night.
It was terrifying, frankly. She insisted he must've gotten out of the common room on his own, no matter how anyone argued that toads weren't known for either strength or dexterity. There was no way it could've gotten out on its own. It was the one point everyone could agree on, everyone...but her.
She sobbed and moaned as each of our dormmates drifted back to their beds until I was the only one left. I should've gone to bed, too; I know I should have. We're not allowed out after curfew. I've never had detention and thought it might not be the best time to start. But she begged and begged until I didn't think I could refuse.
I don't think my heart's ever pumped that hard. Nearly all my hair went white. We never found Tate (that's the toad. It's short for "Tater-Tot"), but she thanked me when we got back to the common room, glad she didn't have to go alone. I...reckon I'm more glad we didn't get caught. Tonight, she said we'd go looking again. My hair's going lilac just thinking about it.
Word Count: 213 Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026 Entry: #3
I finally did it; I invited Shara to sit with me at dinner.
She's always sitting alone near the end of the tables. Sometimes, she reads through meals; sometimes, she just pushes her food around her plate until the break is over. Some of my classmates said she's as mean as a snake – despite being a Hufflepuff – and that she has a scowl ready for anyone who bothers her. I've never seen it myself, and I don't think I want to.
So, for a long time, I decided it was better to mind my business.
But tonight, she looked a little more...I don't know...lonely? I'd probably just spent too long thinking about it and was starting to see things. It'd already been a week of me trying to talk myself up. I even wrote myself a small speech. I walked to the end of the Hufflepuff table, and even though I stuttered through it, I managed to coax her back to the middle with me.
I found out she doesn't scowl on purpose. Most times, she's just lost in thought and doesn't notice. She's also kind of funny!
We're sitting together again at lunch tomorrow. She promised to show me some of her drawings. I think I even caught her smiling.
Word Count: 321 Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Entry: #4
Today, I found out I'm better at Defense Against the Darks Arts than I thought I was – or at least not as bad as Austin. He sits next to me and doesn't stop talking most times. I don't know how to make him stop and don't want to offend him, so I usually politely smile and wait for him to be done. It's...it's okay, for the most part, except when we both get in trouble for chatting, but... I'm nearly sure he means well.
Unfortunately, meaning well doesn't translate to success. It turns out, all that talking makes it harder for him to get anything from the lessons. He's on the brink of failing and might be looking remedial classes in the face if he can't get his act together.
I don't know why he thought to tell me of all people. There are plenty of students better at all this. But he did ask me, during lunch, when I'd planned to take some photos by the lake.
I was disappointed, but mostly at myself for knowing I wouldn't be able to turn him down. Someday, my no's will come easier. Today wasn't that day.
I let him come with me so he could ask questions. He's a lot needier than I remember him being from just classes. I offered to take him to the nurse after, in case she had potions to make him focus more and...uh...buzz less, but he was already onto the next topic before I could finish making the offer.
It wasn't until we got to the end of the review that he told me he had a makeup test in the next period. He's a little insane, I'm convinced, but he said he felt more confident after my explanation about gytrashes and hags. He even called me smart. I didn't know what to do with that part. He'll let me know how he did tomorrow.
Word Count: 217 Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026 Entry: #5
I gave away the last muffin at breakfast this morning.
After writing so many entries, this one seems a little...silly, but it's all I have for today. One of my housemates overslept, and by the time he showed up to breakfast, the food was already beginning to disappear. I'd snagged a muffin before it did, happy for a small snack on my way to first period.
Soft and moist – if the others were any indication – with tiny chocolate chips.
I'd been lucky to grab it when I did. The plate disappeared seconds after my hand lifted from it.
But I'd already had breakfast, and I could hear his stomach growling. I couldn't imagine having to go to classes with such loud rumblings. Everyone would hear, and I'd be mortified. I don't think I'd be able to concentrate knowing everyone in the room could hear me starving, and...maybe...maybe he'd have been as mortified if he had to, so I let him have it.
His eyes lit up at the offer, and he said he owes me one, but I declined. I wasn't looking for payback when I gave it to him, only the chance to not have him potentially humiliated by something within my control.
I hope we'll have more of those muffins at breakfast tomorrow.
OOC: All names and references and characters were made up.
Final word count: 1,246
Encyclopaedia ✿ Metamorphmagus ✿ If the sun shines, that's reason enough.
Serendipity
Dear...me,
Word Count: 665 Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Entry: Reflection
I thought about writing this on fresh parchment, stuffing it into an envelope and taking it all the way up to the owlery. Then I realised...there's no point, not when I'm right here. It feels right that the place I write down my deepest thoughts is also the place I would leave a message for myself. Maybe someday I'll look back at the girl I used to be and, with some luck, be hardly able to recognise her.
My parents never replied to the owl I sent. I don't blame them, not really. A part of me was expecting as much. They wouldn't be happy to see an owl swooping in with mail. Thinking about it, it might've startled them a little, if not outright made them mad.
I don't think they'll ever write while I'm at school, but it's okay. I'll be okay, or I'll try to be. Someday, I want to believe that I won't feel like this anymore. That means...that means letting go of some things – at least at school.
It's been so hard all these months, wanting to do well but being afraid of what doing well would mean. It might be time to accept that what my parents expect and this new me that I've been seeing small glimpses of...well...they've got no business together and can't walk along the same road. It's been hard trying not to be proud every time I learn a new spell and having to shy away from these new and magical things that I've been enjoying because it's what my parents expect.
Maybe...maybe this is all wrong, and maybe it does make me a sinner.
Some of my housemates and I went down by the lake yesterday. They skipped stones with their wands, shooting them clear across the glassy surface. I hadn't been sure, but I joined them, worrying the whole time because magic shouldn't be fun. My stone zipped the furthest, and you know what? They didn't look at me like I was a stain or some manifestation of ill intent for enjoying this...this amazing thing that my parents hate so much. They grinned and laughed; they cheered me on and encouraged me to try again.
It felt...warm.
If I'm being honest, there have been plenty of moments like these, small and barely worth mentioning. I tried not to think too much about them, but they've become so precious to me. They make me want to take more and more steps into this world, and maybe even... I don't know...become...good at some of this.
I'm not good at many things, not the way my siblings are. I'll never draw like Evelyn can or sing the way Rowan does. I'm not as strong as Thorne, and Isla can run circles around me in fashion. Even Sera and Jasper found things they could be praised for. I doubt I'll ever receive that praise, but I think... I think I've finally found mine. I think that someday, I could be strong and proficient, so I want to try – really try.
I want to feel...good.
But that won't happen if I keep letting myself worry about what my parents will think.
Starting tomorrow, I'll practise my spells outside the classroom. I haven't been doing that, not even when I needed them, because I wanted to make sure I could look my parents in the eyes and tell them I resisted. It's only left me behind my peers, and they still aren't happy with me. If I practised, I could feel better about my magic, and...and there's no saying they have to know. And every time I catch myself panicking over it, I'll try to remind myself that maybe I deserve to be good at something, too.
It won't be easy at first, but I envy the people who draw their wands and cast with such confidence and ease. I think I'd like to become like them someday and know what that will require of me.
I'll do it.
Encyclopaedia ✿ Metamorphmagus ✿ If the sun shines, that's reason enough.